“I don’t feel 43, otherwise I wouldn’t be playing this game still,” Vizquel said. “I feel pretty young still. I feel I’m able to do a lot on the field. I play a position that is really demanding where you have to jump and stop and do a lot of acrobatic stuff. As long as I can still do that, I think you have a chance to play.”

In the final spring game earlier this month in Atlanta, Vizquel had four hits, four RBIs and one stolen base.

“I hope I can have one of those in the season,” he said. “It’s just one of the examples that your body is still in shape to go through 162 games plus playoffs plus the World Series.”

… “The challenge is for him to start waking up in the morning like a pitcher,” said Don Cooper, the White Sox’ pitching coach. “He has to become a professional glove hitter. He’s not trying to win the kewpie doll at the fair. But I’ll say this: there’s enough to work with — he’s got three above-average pitches — so if it doesn’t work, I’m going to take it as a failure on our part.” …